A Culture of Disciple-Making, pt. 5

Discipleship is about being a follower of Jesus Christ who seeks to become more like Him and helps others do the same.          

Discipleship thus includes both evangelizing unbelievers and edifying other believers.          

Discipleship is the mission of local churches, which means that it is also the mission of believers together.          

Discipleship thus should be the dominant category of a believer’s life and the dominant culture of a local church. 

What are some implications for a culture of disciple-making?

-   I am to grow up to become like Jesus, and I am to help others grow up and become like Jesus                  

-   It is my local church (other believers) that helps me to become like Jesus, and it is my local church (other believers) that I am to help in becoming more like Jesus (which, in turn, further helps me to become like Jesus)                  

-   When I’m committed to this—and the other believers in my local church are committed to this—the character of our church’s culture will emphasize: patience, normalcy (day by day), the longview, intentionality, personal contact, mutuality (“I’m not the only one…”), responsibility (“I need to step up…”), welcoming, no two people are the same, avoiding reductionism (“Jesus love you”), openness, graciousness, humility, etc. 

-  A culture of disciple-making can: encourage other sorts of discipleship, too; provide a helpful filter for determining the costs/benefits of what we are doing (or are contemplating doing); keeps principles of economic prudence close at hand (limited resources, defined priorities); and, help temper hierarchy and centralization

What does this mean for me?                  

      show up (Hebrews 10:24-25)                      

           help out (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)                          

              invest in (Colossians 1:28-29)